Last night, at the red carpet for the 2013 American Music Awards, Lady Gaga (as usual) proved to be a massive distraction. "Sorry," Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelley said to ELLE.com mid-interview, craning his neck to get a better view of Lady Gaga's entrance on a faux white horse propelled by people. "Look at Lady Gaga. Some people have been asking us the difference between the country awards and these awards, and there you go right now! And there are people who actually know how to ride horses at the country award shows."

The country pop group, who won Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group, have had a banner year, touring their album Own The Night. For the musicians, one of the strangest parts of being in a successful band is hearing your music playing out in the world. "It never gets old to hear your song," singer Hillary Scott said. "And truthfully I always crank it up because I want to hear how it sounds on the radio." Guitarist Dave Haywood chimed in, "I heard our song once in a Subway!"

After performing their touching song "Say Something" on The Voice and now on the AMA's stage, up-and-coming duo A Great Big World (Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino) feel shocked by the hit's quick rise to fame. "We both just stopped talking and it was just a moment of strangeness," singer/keyboardist Vaccarino said of hearing the song on the radio for the first time. "You just think 'How is something you created in your bedroom that's so personal to you being projected out into the world and so many people are listening to it?' It's a really special moment."

Musician Skylar Grey had the same sentiment about the song "Love the Way You Lie" that she co-wrote for Eminem and Rihanna. "When I heard it for the first time on the radio, that was a big moment for me, because I didn't even get to hear that song finished until it was out on the record," she explained. "I wrote the hook, I sent it off, and I didn't hear Rihanna or Eminem's part until it was out."

Women have ruled pop this year and that was clear on the red carpet, as well. "I'm here for the ladies tonight," rapper 2 Chainz said. "I want to see Miley, Rihanna, and Gaga."

Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus herself had some thoughts on the award show circus. "I think everyone views these award shows sometimes as pageant rather than just showing up and just being," Cyrus told reporters before she was hustled into the show. "So I think it's important for women to see women who don't show up in gowns every time and the full face. I think it's important for girls to deal with sexuality differently so that's why I choose what I wear." For the record, Cyrus walked the step-and-repeat in a sleek white pants suit. Yes, she covered her bum, leaving us wondering what shocking move she'll pull next.